Finding the perfect coffee shop should be easy—but most directories are clunky, outdated, or overkill. That’s why I built a custom WordPress plugin designed specifically for local business discovery, starting with coffee shops.
It’s fully block-based, lightweight, and flexible enough to work in any city—and with a few tweaks, it’s not just for coffee. Here’s how it came together.
You can view the full plugin code on GitHub: github.com/JonImmsWordpressDev/coffee-shop-directory
🔧 Why I Built It
- Easy to manage in the Block Editor
- Fast and responsive for users
- Fully filterable by location, hours, and features
- Built with clean code—no ACF, no bloat
- Adaptable for other types of local directories
This wasn’t just about building something for one city. I wanted a reusable tool that anyone could take and rebrand for their own needs.
🧱 Key Features
- Custom post type (for coffee shops or anything else)
- Block-based layout using native WordPress blocks
- Opening hours logic with “Open Now” and “Closed Today”
- Google Maps integration with synced markers
- AJAX filtering (no reloads!)
- zipcode proximity sorting
- Responsive cards with icons for WiFi, drive-thru, etc.
- Extensible for reviews, favorites, and more
✨ Built for the Block Editor
This plugin is 100% Gutenberg-native. All the content—including maps, filters, and listings—can be added, styled, and rearranged directly in the Block Editor.
No need for PHP templates. Just drop the custom block onto a page and start customizing.
⏰ Smart Opening Times
Each listing has opening hours for every day of the week. The plugin figures out whether it’s:
- Open Now
- Closes Soon
- Closed Today
And it highlights that status right on the card—with helpful details like “Closes at 3:00 PM.”
📍 Location-Based Filtering
Visitors can filter by:
- Neighborhood or region
- Open now status
- Features (e.g., WiFi, drive-thru)
- Distance from a ZIP code
Everything updates dynamically, including the map markers.
🌎 Works in Any City
This plugin was designed to be flexible and city-agnostic. You can easily:
- Add your own neighborhoods or areas
- Enter shops manually or import them in bulk
- Customize the language and labels
- Use it for any type of local directory
This isn’t just a coffee shop plugin—it’s a local business finder engine.
🔄 Not Just for Coffee
With a few label changes, you can use this plugin to build directories for:
- 🍻 Breweries
- 🧘 Fitness studios
- 🐾 Pet services
- 📚 Bookstores
- 🍔 Food trucks
- 🧑💻 Coworking spaces
If it has a location, hours, and a reason to visit—it works.
🚀 What’s Next
- 📥 Bulk import tools
- ⭐️ Saved favorites
- 💬 Reviews & comments
- 📆 Event integration
- 💸 Premium listing support
🎯 Final Thoughts
I’ve been building WordPress plugins for years, but this one hits close to home (and not just because I love coffee). It shows what’s possible with modern WordPress development—block-based layouts, AJAX filtering, real-time logic—all without relying on heavy third-party tools.
If you’re interested in building something similar, need a custom version for your own city, or want to collaborate—get in touch.
Again, here’s the repo: github.com/JonImmsWordpressDev/coffee-shop-directory